Chapter 161
After several rounds of bargaining, Lorelei finally released a helpless sigh.
Following a long period of consideration, she accepted Haruto’s proposed rate: one kernel of BB Corn in exchange for one starter Pokémon or another Pokémon of equivalent value.
Haruto had expected her to continue negotiating, so he was mildly surprised when she conceded so quickly.
Apparently, Lorelei was not particularly skilled at haggling.
Not that it was Haruto’s problem.
He looked at her and asked directly,
"So, how many kernels of BB Corn do you need?"
Lorelei did not answer immediately.
She leaned forward slightly, a shrewd glint entering her eyes.
"Haruto, you should understand that raising Pokémon is far more complicated than it appears."
"I possess specialized training programs for Ice- and Water-type Pokémon."
"They cover the development of basic moves, effective use of hidden abilities, physical conditioning to push their limits, and targeted refinement of practical battle techniques."
"You could make good use of those, couldn’t you?"
Haruto had to admit that she was right.
Developing the Gourmet Restaurant would require the cooperation of many Pokémon.
But if those Pokémon were weak or lacked stamina, they might exhaust themselves after using only a few moves, drastically reducing their efficiency.
Professional training programs that could improve their strength and endurance would naturally benefit him.
Of course, Lorelei clearly did not intend to give them away for free.
Haruto could probably obtain some general training plans from Professor Oak without paying anything.
However, free things often came with the greatest hidden costs.
It would be cleaner to trade with Lorelei instead, especially since Haruto was hardly short of BB Corn.
"I do need them," he admitted. "How much BB Corn do you want?"
Lorelei smiled and began considering her price.
A complete training program was difficult to evaluate, but as one of Kanto’s Elite Four, the methods she had developed certainly could not be sold too cheaply.
After thinking for a moment, she deliberately quoted a figure far above what she believed the material was actually worth.
"At least one hundred kernels of BB Corn!"
That would leave her plenty of room for negotiation while allowing her to turn the tables on Haruto after his refusal to budge earlier.
To Lorelei’s complete surprise, Haruto did not even pause to consider it.
"Fine."
"The price is actually negotiable—"
Lorelei instinctively began speaking, only to stop halfway through.
One hundred kernels was an intentionally inflated price.
Yet Haruto had agreed without the slightest hesitation.
Every argument she had prepared to pressure him became lodged in her throat. She stared at him in disbelief, momentarily unsure what to say.
Seeing her caught completely off guard, Haruto could not suppress the slight curve of his lips.
The price seemed reasonable enough to him.
He could probably have bargained it down, but he did not feel like wasting time over a few kernels of BB Corn.
His smile only made Lorelei feel more frustrated.
She had intended to outmaneuver him, only for his immediate acceptance to throw her own plan into confusion.
Still, irritation aside, there was no chance she would withdraw after securing an additional hundred kernels of BB Corn.
Even with that amount guaranteed, Lorelei intended to trade for more.
Exactly how much she could obtain would depend on how many Pokémon from Haruto’s list she managed to gather.
Once the agreement was settled, Lorelei began contacting people to acquire the Pokémon.
She also decided to remain at Professor Oak’s laboratory for the time being, both to await the professor’s full research results and to receive the Pokémon being brought in for the trade.
One of the laboratory assistants showed her to a guest room.
After settling in, Lorelei decided to find Haruto and speak with him further.
Both Haruto himself and the worlds he had visited fascinated her.
She could not find him in the garden, however.
After asking a member of the staff, Lorelei eventually located him in the kitchen.
Haruto stood before the stove, preparing ingredients with smooth, effortless movements.
Lorelei did not interrupt. She simply remained near the doorway and watched.
Haruto had already noticed her arrival, but since she stayed silent, he continued cooking.
Under Lorelei’s attentive gaze, he first placed thoroughly washed rice into a pot, added the proper amount of water, and brought it slowly to a boil over low heat.
The grains gradually softened and expanded, releasing a delicate fragrance.
Haruto then brought out a naturally shed claw from a Krabby.
With a light stroke of his Melk Knife, the hard shell split open, revealing firm, springy crabmeat that was plump and snowy white.
He removed the meat and added it to the simmering rice.
Next came several mushrooms harvested from Paras. Haruto washed them, sliced them, and placed them into the pot as well.
The rich savoriness of the crab and the fresh fragrance of the mushrooms intertwined, rising with the steam and spreading throughout the kitchen.
Before long, a pot of fragrant, piping-hot crab congee was ready.
Haruto turned off the heat and looked toward Lorelei at the entrance.
"I just finished making crab congee. Would you like some, Lorelei?"
The irresistible aroma in the kitchen had already tempted her.
Professor Oak had repeatedly praised Haruto’s cooking in almost absurd terms, and Lorelei was curious to see whether the food could truly live up to his descriptions.
She did not pretend to be uninterested and nodded readily.
"Thank you. I’d be happy to try it."
Haruto smiled, took out two white porcelain bowls, and filled them with steaming congee.
He handed one to Lorelei.
She accepted it, scooped up a spoonful, and gently blew away the heat before tasting it.
A burst of exquisite savoriness spread across her tongue.
The Krabby meat was firm and pleasantly springy, carrying a natural hint of salt that made heavy seasoning unnecessary.
The Paras mushrooms were tender and fresh, while the rice had been simmered until soft and creamy, leaving a subtle sweetness behind.
The three flavors blended into something rich without becoming heavy or overpowering.
As the warm congee slid down her throat and settled in her stomach, Lorelei felt warmth spread throughout her body.
When Professor Oak had described Haruto’s cuisine as almost unparalleled, she had not taken his praise particularly seriously.
But as the flavor unfolded across her palate in layer after layer, she realized the professor had not exaggerated at all.
Lorelei emptied the bowl.
Before she fully realized what she was doing, she held it out for another serving.
Haruto smiled and refilled it.
One bowl became two.
By the time she finished the third, Lorelei was so full that she could not possibly eat another bite.
She finally set down her spoon with visible reluctance and stared at Haruto in amazement.
"I honestly didn’t expect your cooking to be this delicious."
"Professor Oak’s description didn’t capture even a tenth of the real experience."
Then she remembered that she had eaten three bowls in succession, and a faint blush appeared on her pale cheeks.
Haruto looked up with an amused smile.
"I am a chef, after all."
"I’m glad you enjoyed it."
Lorelei’s curiosity about him only deepened.
After they cleaned the dishes, she began asking him about the other worlds he had visited.
Haruto did not hide anything and repeated much of what he had already told Professor Oak.
Unlike the professor, however, Lorelei was intensely interested in the smaller details.
She asked about the architecture of other worlds, their food, daily customs, social relationships, and whether they contained creatures similar to Pokémon.
Haruto was happy to share what he knew.
Their questions and answers continued as time passed unnoticed.
Before either of them realized it, they had been talking for more than two hours.
Only when the sunlight outside began to shift did Haruto bring the conversation to an end.
"We’ve been talking for quite a while, and the weather is getting warm. I’m planning to make some Moomoo Milk ice cream. Would you like to try it?"
Lorelei’s eyes immediately brightened at the mention of ice cream.
She nodded and volunteered to help.
"I’ll assist you."
Haruto had no reason to refuse.
Having someone handle the simpler tasks should have made things easier for him.
He began regretting that decision after Lorelei broke her third plate.
Lorelei also realized she was creating more trouble than she was solving.
But giving up now would make her look hopelessly incompetent.
After thinking for a moment, she tossed out a Poké Ball.
A flash of red light filled the kitchen, and a Jynx appeared.
Lorelei had clearly decided to let her Pokémon help instead.
Jynx gave its Trainer an obedient cry, then turned and looked curiously at Haruto.
Interest flashed through his eyes.
Jynx was both an Ice- and Psychic-type Pokémon.
Its psychic powers should be perfectly suited to handling ingredients.